A Patiala court denied anticipatory bail to Civil Judge Bikramdeep Singh in a theft and trespass case involving a fellow judge’s residence. The court cited CCTV evidence and held the allegations seriously undermine the integrity expected from a judicial officer.
A court in Patiala district, Punjab, has refused anticipatory bail to Civil Judge (Junior Division) Bikramdeep Singh, who faces charges of theft and house trespass.
The case, registered last month, alleges that Bikramdeep and others removed gold and jewellery from the home of fellow judge, Additional District & Sessions Judge Kanwaljit Singh, on the night the judge died in hospital last year.
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On April 1, Additional Sessions Judge Harinder Sidhu denied pre-arrest bail, noting that the allegations are serious and involve the removal of a significant amount of gold and jewellery from a deceased colleague’s residence under suspicious circumstances.
The court observed,
“The offence alleged strikes at the integrity, expected from a public servant more particularly a judicial officer. Although it is alleged that the FIR has been got registered with a mala fide intention after a delay of 7 months but the investigation file would reveal that an application had been moved by the complainant to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Patiala Range which was marked to the Superintendent of Police for inquiry into the matter. The CCTV footages in the pendrive, available with the record of investigation shows the bail applicant entering and exiting the premises with his co-accused, carrying certain boxes and bags,”
Bikramdeep has denied the charges, saying he was asked by Kanwaljit Singh’s son, Angadpal Singh who was then in Canada to safeguard the valuables immediately. He also maintained that he later returned the items when Angadpal stayed at his house.
However, the court said the CCTV footage “prima facie corroborates his presence at the scene alongwith the co-accused.”
It added,
“The body language of the people in the CCTV footage including that of the petitioner and the manner in which the articles are being taken away prima facie shows that the act is being done in a clandestine manner,”
The story is being updated with additional details.
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